Device for the prevention of RSI symptoms

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A system for preventing RSI symptoms when keys of a keyboard are operated, said keyboard supported by plural supports, and comprising: a force sensor comprising at least one said support; means for signalling a user of said keyboard; and a processor coupled to said force sensor and responsive to a time progression of sensed force signals therefrom, to determine force values applied to a respective key, in part, based upon a location of said key with respect to said force sensor, and for comparing said time progression of force values to a force stress model and for generating a user perceivable output from said means for signalling if a force value on said respective key exceeds said force stress model.
2.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor derives an average of force values for a key and causes said user perceivable output if said average exceeds said force stress model.
3.
The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising: means for altering a required key pressure to activate a key in response to said average exceeding said force stress model.
4.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured in a form to be user-removable from said keyboard.




Description:
The present invention relates to a device and/or a method to prevent RSI symptoms associated with the use of keyboards.
RSI is an established abbreviation in medicine, standing for "Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)".
RSI describes a syndrome which is particularly widespread among professional computer users and data typists.
The RSI syndrome often occurs only after several years of intensive typing activity on keyboards.
RSI is triggered by overload on the finger joints and tendons as the keys are pressed.
Even the most intensive sort of typing on keyboards does not lead to the RSI syndrome if the keyboard users are careful when operating the keys.
A higher level of tension develops in the finger muscles, triggered by nervousness or stress, with the result that the fingers acquire a greater degree of rigidity